Howard W. Kreiner

On Thursday, June 19, 2025, Howard W. Kreiner of Bethesda, Maryland passed peacefully at his residence in the Riderwood Community at the age of 101 years. Attained a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania on a Philadelphia Mayor's scholarship. Joined the Operations Evaluation Group of the US Navy, a consulting group operated by MIT. During his work with this group, took assignments of one or more years with naval commands in which he served on the staff of commanding officers, acting as a scientific analyst to them. Back in Washington, his study of US Navy Operations in the Korean War developed a set of planning factors applied to the development of the A-6 attack plane. Became one of the founding members of the Operations Research Society of America (ORSA) and completed a master's degree in mathematics at MIT.
Served on the staffs of the Commanders of Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific fleets. While assigned operated with the fleet aboard aircraft carriers and cruisers at sea during all operations of the fleet. He was aboard the USS Ticonderoga on the staff of the carrier force commander during the first actions in the Tonkin Gulf that led to wider involvement of the US Navy against North Vietnam. Co-authored a handbook of guidance on weapons for use by the fleet in operations.
Joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense and managed the first of joint service exercises called Logistics Over The Shore (LOTS) for handling military cargo in an unimproved landing area. Also served as Executive Secretary on two panels of the Defense Science Board which developed and published Lessons Learned on Test and Evaluation of Military Systems.
Rejoining the Navy analysis group now known as the Center for Naval Analyses, he developed a study team concentrating on operational logistics for the forces afloat. He described all these experiences with Naval forces afloat and ashore in a book published in 1992, Fields of Operations Research.
Retiring in 1992, he served for one year representing the Operations Research Society of America (now known as INFORMS, the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science) to the American Association of Engineering Societies Committee on Pensions. After that he devoted his attention to his hobby of photography, publishing two books of his work.
Howard was married twice, Fay Hutkin (married/1946, divorced/1957), two children, Johanna and Matthew; and Yukiko Namba, married 1957, preceded in death March 2025. He is survived by his brother, Melvin Kreiner and spouse Rhoda, and their daughter, Debbie Kreiner Stevens.
A brief memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 24 10 a.m. at Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care, 170 Rollins Ave., Rockville, MD 20852.
Memorial contributions may be made to disabled veterans of America. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.